Children’s Cardiomyopathy Awareness Month Urges Families to #KnowYourHeart to Learn Risk Factors

PITTSBURGH, PA--When one thinks of heart disease, adults usually come to mind. The reality is children of all ages can be affected by heart disease too, often with more devastating outcomes. This September, the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation is partnering with the Children’s Cardiomyopathy Foundation (CCF) for Children’s Cardiomyopathy Awareness Month to educate the public about pediatric cardiomyopathy, a chronic and potentially life-threatening heart disease that affects how the heart muscle pumps blood.

Cardiomyopathy is the number one cause of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and heart transplants among young people. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 2,000 people younger than age 25 die of SCA every year in the United States. SCA is the leading cause of death on school property, with only five percent who experience SCA actually surviving. In many cases, if cardiomyopathy is detected earlier and managed properly, sudden cardiac death can be prevented. Children’s Cardiomyopathy Awareness Month aims to educate the public on the signs, symptoms and risk factors for cardiomyopathy, which will help identify more undiagnosed, at-risk children and get them the appropriate medical attention to prevent premature death.

"Cardiomyopathy is difficult to detect without symptoms, and if not diagnosed the consequences can be devastating," said Lisa Yue, founding executive director of CCF who lost two young children to cardiomyopathy. “We hope Children’s Cardiomyopathy Awareness Month will call attention to a serious heart disease. We encourage the public to get involved in raising awareness of pediatric cardiomyopathy not only in September but year round.”

“We are pleased to partner with the Children’s Cardiomyopathy Foundation on this awareness initiative and hope to educate others on the signs, symptoms and risk factors for cardiomyopathy. This September we urge physicians, nurses, coaches, teachers and community leaders to join us in raising awareness of pediatric cardiomyopathy,” adds Mary Newman of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation.

For more information visit www.sca-aware.org and www.childrenscardiomyopathy.org.